In the post on my Christmas wish list, I included this Topshop Velvet lips (£10), in Plush, a wonderful purple.
I was super excited to see if Topshop could rival the incredible Lime Crime Velvetines (11.50), a very tough job, but Topshop could well put up a good fight.
Here they are on the lip, side by side. Both looking pretty good, and both giving a nice velvet feel.
1st up: Lime crime Velvetines in Red Velvet
I won’t say too much on this, you can find my review of it HERE . Really, this product just speaks for itself, the colour is incredible, it stays on forever, the coverage is great, a little goes a long way. I always receive compliments when I wear this and although it really sticks to your lips, it’s not drying, and gives a nice smooth feel. Plus, its vegan and cruelty free, so that’s always good.
The contender: Topshop Velvet Lips in Plush
Right, I have a lot more to say on this one. Firstly, the colour, I love it, it’s so in right now and it’s a really flattering purple for how dark it is. It also has a velvet feel on the lips. That’s where my good points for this product end. Seriously.
One reason I don’t like this, is because it sticks to itself. With my Velvetine, I put some on my bottom lip, then do a lip smack, and the product is evenly transferred to the top lip. What happens when you smack your lips together wearing the Velvet Lip?
This. The product doesn’t stay on your lip, it sticks onto the product. It’s horrible because it means you need to apply much more.
Which brings me onto the next thing, because you have to apply more to really get the velvet effect, it gets super thick and clumpy. Now, I’ve gone out wearing my Velvetine, and re-applied it a couple of times, just due to eating and drinking, and it’s never felt too thick or gone clumpy.
You can kind of see it in the pictures above of the darker patches where there’s more product because I have to patch up bits where the product has stuck to something. I hope you can see it a bit better in the below picture. Also, my lips look horrible and dry, no one will want to kiss those!
Finally, anyone who has tried Velvetines will know that it’s a bit of a bitch to get off, simply because it really sticks to your lips. I can put up with having to take a little more time to get my Red Velvet off, because that is literally the only thing that’s annoying about it.
This Topshop disaster, actually comes off in like pieces, it almost crumbles off. Some it will smear like any lipstick when you take it off, but those darker patches will just crumble. It feels horrible, the whole experience of the velvet lip is horrible.
I love the Velvetines because it’s super simple to apply, any one can wear it, and it looks incredible, the perfect red lip. The Topshop equivalent does nothing to make the person wearing it feel good or sexy.
It’s such a shame because I really wanted to love this product. The only Topshop Velvet Lip you can buy now, is one that comes in a Raven black. Maybe if they tried some lighter shades, like a nice ballerina pink, then it would work better. However, the colour of this one is what makes the product, so you want to get the full effect, but that’s hard because you need to apply a silly amount.
I honestly couldn’t dislike it anymore and Topshop are going to need to try a hell of a lot harder if they want to be a true contender in the world of velvet lips.
I feel awful bad mouthing something, so to leave it on a (kinda) high, the Topshop Velvet Lip does look in photos, when you’re standing kinda far from the camera.
So guys, it’s obviously Lime Crime’s Velvetines all the way for me. Anyone else tried the Topshop Velvet Lip and had a similar experience? Or did you absolutely love it?
Gretchen Foxx 